Advice from a former president. Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta`al) plans to turn to the United States` major media outlets in order to present the situation of the Arab population in Israel to the American public.

Tibi decided to take this move following advice he received during a meeting with former US President Jimmy Carter on Monday. The conversation between the two concluded Carter`s series of meetings in Israel

Carter and Tibi met at a Jerusalem hotel, and one of the issues they discussed was what the MK described as the Israeli discrimination against the Arab sector.

`Carter said that the American public was unaware of the situation, and suggested that I work to make the matter known among the global public opinion,` Tibi told Ynet.

He added that during the meeting Carter asked him what it was like being an Arab Knesset member in Israel. `I replied that it was not easy being an Arab citizen in the State of Israel, and all the more so being an MK.

`Carter was silent and then said once again that these things should be made public, suggesting that I turn to the major media outlets in the United States, like the New York Times. I definitely plan to take his advice and do so.


`I told him that there were 900 employees in Israel`s central bank, and I asked him and his assistants if they had any idea how many of these workers were Arabs. Carter was silent for a moment and then asked, `How many?` I signaled with my hand the number zero. Carter said, `Wow, I can`t believe it.``

`Hamas part of Palestinian mosaic`

The former US president told the MK about his meetings in the region with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, Syrian President Bashar Assad and other Arab leaders.

`He said that the talks with Hamas were positive and serious and would continue in the future as well, and added that they agree to the establishment of a state in the 1967 borders and will hold a referendum on any agreement signed between Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and Israel.

`Carter added that he views these meetings as extremely important and believes that Hamas is part of the Palestinian mosaic and therefore must be included in the talks,` Tibi said.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3534266,00.html